{"id":17769,"date":"2020-06-30T12:04:51","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T10:04:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?p=17769"},"modified":"2021-04-23T08:25:42","modified_gmt":"2021-04-23T06:25:42","slug":"intermittent-fasting-for-women","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/","title":{"rendered":"A Complete Guide to Intermittent Fasting for Women"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p style=\"font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;\"><em>This article was medically fact-checked by <a href=\"#drscroll\">Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Shree Datta<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><strong>Please note that advice offered by Intimina may not be relevant to your individual case. If your period is late, you notice a strange change in blood color or you lose your period due to fasting, always consult your physician or other licensed medical practitioners.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermittent fasting is a really big thing right now.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like really, big.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a lot of articles out there that talk about the best way to fast. The benefits of fasting. Workouts you can do while fasting. All kinds of different stuff.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The least talked about?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How it affects different genders. Specifically females.&nbsp; There are many women who swear by it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But there are also a few downsides that affect women specifically.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What Is Intermittent Fasting?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermittent fasting is basically not eating for a set number of hours and then eating whatever you want for the next set. Of course, there are certain foods better for you than others. And if you are looking for weight loss you may want to keep that in mind before you reach for that bag of chips.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Since you aren\u2019t eating for so many hours, it cuts down on calorie intake. Which generally equals weight loss.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the most popular methods are :&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>The 16\/8 method<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Also called the Leangains protocol, it involves skipping breakfast and restricting your daily eating period to 8 hours, such as 12\u20138 p.m. Then you fast for the 16 hours outside that window.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Eat-Stop-Eat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This involves fasting for 24 hours, once or twice a week. One example of this would be not eating after dinner on a Tuesday until dinner time on Wednesday.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>The 5:2 diet<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: With this method, you consume only 500\u2013600 calories on two non-consecutive days of the week, but eat normally the other 5 days.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Alternate-day fasting: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This routine is exactly as it sounds. You eat normally one day and then don\u2019t eat at all (or only have a couple of hundred calories) the next. There\u2019s a lot of different versions of this one. Make sure to find the one that works for you.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>The Warrior Diet:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> For this one, you eat small amounts of fruits and vegetables for most of the day and then have a big meal at night.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Spontaneous meal skipping: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This one is pretty self-explanatory. You randomly skip a meal. You don\u2019t have to follow a structured guide to reap the benefits of IF.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Who Is Intermittent Fasting For?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IF is most commonly used as a weight-loss tool.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But that doesn\u2019t mean it doesn\u2019t have other health benefits.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People who do regular intermittent fasting have shown improved markers of health, reduced risk of chronic health conditions, and improved brain health (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalnewstoday.com\/articles\/323605#a-reduced-risk-of-cancer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever skipped breakfast? Chances are if you consistently do this, then you may have been intermittent fasting and not even known it!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep in mind, that research around IF is still somewhat limited, so people should proceed with caution &#8211; and discuss with their healthcare providers before starting a regime.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How Does IF Affect The Body?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Overall intermittent fasting has the same effects on the human body in the following ways(<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/nutrition\/10-health-benefits-of-intermittent-fasting\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">):<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>1. Changes The Function Of Cells, Genes, And Hormones.&nbsp;<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s no surprise that not eating for a while can cause a change in your body.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here are a few things that happen when you fast:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Insulin levels drop:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Dropped insulin levels are the reason that you lose weight. Because when your insulin drops you start burning fat.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Human growth hormone increases: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the hormone that facilitates fat burning and muscle gain along with numerous other benefits.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Cellular repair<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:&nbsp; The body starts cleaning out waste material from cells.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Gene expression<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: IF causes changes in several genes that have been known to relate to longevity and protection against disease.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>2. Lose Weight<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is fairly well known that it will help you lose weight.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But how does it do this?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As mentioned in the last point \u2014 insulin levels drop and human growth hormone increases. These combined functions cause the body to start burning fat.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It also increases your metabolic rate \u2014 which means you burn more calories in the same amount of time.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>3. Reduce Oxidative Stress<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Oxidative stress is one step towards aging and many chronic diseases.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some studies have shown that intermittent fasting may help the body fight off oxidative stress.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>4. Heart Health<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of risk factors that IF may help to improve. These include blood pressure, total and LDL cholesterol, blood triglycerides, inflammatory markers, and blood sugar levels (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19793855\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3><b>5. Brain Health<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Several studies on rats have revealed that intermittent fasting may increase the growth of nerve cells. Which benefits brain function (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/11220789\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) has increased levels while fasting. (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/11220789\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC151440\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">). Low levels of BDNF have been linked to depression and many other brain problems.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s also said that fasting brings mental clarity, letting you focus better, and improving your memory.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now, on to the big question.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Does Intermittent Fasting Affect Women Differently?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The short answer?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yes.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The long answer?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There\u2019s a lot of differences between fasting for men and women because of our genetic makeup. Hormones in women react differently to a lack of energy supply compared to men.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below are a few ways that IF can affect women:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can affect blood sugar control (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/15833943\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">7<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alters reproductive (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/19127293\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">8<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thin and weak&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Missed periods<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Heightened stress response&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Increased their spontaneous activity&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improved their learning and memory&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintained elevated levels of circulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/17569758\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormones<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because our hormones are so intertwined, throwing one-off can throw off something else. This imbalance leads to the list above.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the most concerning ways IF can affect women would be missing cycles or menstruation stopping altogether.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why Missing Your Period Is A Big Deal<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may think that missing your period because of intermittent fasting doesn\u2019t really matter.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It may have even happened to you once or twice before now.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But our periods are a really big indicator of how our body is doing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your period\u2019s not only a sign of fertility \u2013 it is also a sign of your overall health.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you aren\u2019t trying to get pregnant, having your period is important and can clue you in to what is going on with your body.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a few things that can cause you to miss your period:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Weight changes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Chances are that you are losing weight with your IF. That\u2019s a good thing of course, but also has an effect on your period. It should resolve itself over time and get you back on a normal schedule<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Stress<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Not eating or getting enough of the nutrients you need can cause stress on your body, which causes you to miss your period.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Too much exercise<\/b><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Thyroid problems<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There isn\u2019t a lot of research out there for intermittent fasting on humans. But we can compare a few of its effects with other research like ones on metabolic and lifestyle traits and behaviours such as weight, exercise, and caloric restriction.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Caloric restriction is a stressor in the brain\u2019s world. This can modify the release of sex hormones through what is called hypothalamic-pituitary-gonada (HPG) axis. Hormones on the HPG axis regulate reproduction and fertility.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can also affect the balance of estrogen. Estrogen is the hormone that plays a big hand in female development. I\u2019m taking the reproductive system along with our female characteristics like breasts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basically, if a woman\u2019s body does not have the nutritional or metabolic energy that it needs to support a pregnancy, it just goes ahead and shuts off the reproductive cycle.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is why you may want to hold off on fasting if you are trying to get pregnant. At the very least, reach out to your doctor and discuss your options.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can You Do Intermittent Fasting Without Affecting Your Period?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s hard to say how exactly it will affect your body and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/understanding-the-length-of-your-cycle\/\">cycle<\/a>. So there\u2019s no set amount of fasting that says \u201cstay under this #\u201d and you\u2019ll be fine.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few days of fasting is unlikely to affect your period.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it really comes down to diet quality, caloric intake, and BMI.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You need to keep an eye on what you eat and make sure that you aren\u2019t having any nutrient deficiencies or low blood sugar levels.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if you aren\u2019t already, it\u2019s a good idea to track your period.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not only does keeping track of your period let you know the length of your cycle better (no more surprises about your period coming) \u2014 it also helps you know what is normal for you. Some women\u2019s periods are on a very tight schedule while others can vary from month to month.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to know what is normal for <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">you <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before getting started.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you know your normal cycle, you can more easily recognize what may have changed it.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And if your period does stop, reach out to your doctor to figure out what\u2019s going on. You can also try switching to an easier exercise plan and eat foods with a healthy fat like avocados, coconuts, and almonds.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you aren\u2019t getting enough to eat it\u2019s possible that you may develop <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/diseases-conditions\/amenorrhea\/symptoms-causes\/syc-20369299\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">amenorrhea<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This is when you miss a period for at least three cycles. Generally, the most common cause of amenorrhea is pregnancy, which is a natural reaction from your body. It shuts down your period because it\u2019s already pregnant. But low body weight, excessive exercise, and stress are also known factors.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IF can cause hormonal imbalances as well.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hormonal changes can cause issues such as:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Your hormone levels run high instead of going up and down like they should with a normal menstrual cycle. These changes are not due to IF.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Thyroid malfunction<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: If the thyroid gland is over or underactive, it can cause irregularities in your menstrual cycle. Again, these changes are most likely not due to IF.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Pituitary tumor<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: A tumor in your pituitary gland can interfere with the regulation of hormones needed to regulate your menstruation.<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><b>Premature menopause<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Generally happens around 50. But sometimes if the ovarian supply of eggs diminishes before age 40 and menstruation stops.&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A specific example of this is hypothalamic amenorrhea.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is when menstruation stops for several months due to problems with the hypothalamus \u2014 the hypothalamus is in the center of the brain and controls reproduction. This happens when there\u2019s an energy imbalance, food restriction, weight loss, exercise, stress and genetics.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you\u2019ve got some awareness of fasting\u2019s effect on your body let\u2019s talk about some ways that you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">can <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">do fasting.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You just need to take a more cautious approach.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most Effective Fasting Approaches For Women<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A lot of intermittent fasting studies have been done on rats, meaning there aren\u2019t a lot of human studies to begin with. Even less for Women specifically.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This means there are a lot of opinions out there about fasting and it leaves us in a bit of a gray area.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But some general guidelines are:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Don\u2019t fast for longer than 24 hours<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ideal fasting window is 12 to 16 hours<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ease into fasting when starting out<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure to drink plenty of fluids while fasting<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keep exercise light on fasting days<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Easing into fasting means don\u2019t do consecutive days when you\u2019re starting out. Start small with 3 days a week (every other day) for two weeks to start.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IF may be most effective for motivated individuals who are able to avoid overeating after a fasting period. Social butterflies beware &#8211; it can be difficult to follow a strict IF protocol when you\u2019re out and about socializing.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Intermittent fasting is only effective when you eat healthily during your meal periods. While there\u2019s nothing wrong with the occasional indulgence, binging during your eating window will negate any positive effects of fasting.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When To Avoid Intermittent Fasting<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As you\u2019ve read so far, IF can be a great tool \u2014 but it isn\u2019t for everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few reasons to avoid intermittent fasting:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pregnant or trying to get pregnant<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Breastfeeding<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty sleeping<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chronic stress<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previous history of eating disorders<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">IF is meant to complement a healthy lifestyle. So if you think you can eat junk food during your windows, you will most likely not reap the same benefits.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Should You Intermittent Fasting?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As with any kind of diet and exercise, there are risks associated with it. Make sure you take precautions.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span id=\"drscroll\" style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And the most important thing you can do when trying out fasting is to listen to your body. There is nothing wrong with trying out a few different methods or tweaking them to find out which one works best for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you have any questions or concerns, reach out to your doctor and discuss if it\u2019s the right plan for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3>Facts Checked By: <\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"sabox-plus-item\"><div class=\"saboxplugin-wrap\" itemtype=\"http:\/\/schema.org\/Person\" itemscope itemprop=\"author\"><div class=\"saboxplugin-tab\"><div class=\"saboxplugin-gravatar\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/shredatta.jpg\" width=\"100\"  height=\"100\" alt=\"Dr.Shree\" itemprop=\"image\"><\/div><div class=\"saboxplugin-authorname\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/shreedatta\/\" class=\"vcard author\" rel=\"author\"><span class=\"fn\">Dr. Shree Datta<\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"saboxplugin-desc\"><div itemprop=\"description\"><div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element drdescr\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<p class=\"drdes\">Dr. Shree Datta is a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist in London, specialising in women\u2019s health including all menstrual problems such as fibroids and endometriosis. Dr. Shree is a keen advocate for patient choice, having written numerous articles and books to promote patient and clinician information. Her vision resonates with INTIMINA, with the common goals of demystifying periods and delivering the best possible care to her patients.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"saboxplugin-socials \"><a title=\"Google\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themedicalchambers.com\/find-a-clinician\/ms-shree-datta\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"saboxplugin-icon-grey\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sab-google\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 488 512\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M488 261.8C488 403.3 391.1 504 248 504 110.8 504 0 393.2 0 256S110.8 8 248 8c66.8 0 123 24.5 166.3 64.9l-67.5 64.9C258.5 52.6 94.3 116.6 94.3 256c0 86.5 69.1 156.6 153.7 156.6 98.2 0 135-70.4 140.8-106.9H248v-85.3h236.1c2.3 12.7 3.9 24.9 3.9 41.4z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a title=\"Linkedin\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/uk.linkedin.com\/in\/shree-datta-10320327\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"saboxplugin-icon-grey\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sab-linkedin\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M100.3 480H7.4V180.9h92.9V480zM53.8 140.1C24.1 140.1 0 115.5 0 85.8 0 56.1 24.1 32 53.8 32c29.7 0 53.8 24.1 53.8 53.8 0 29.7-24.1 54.3-53.8 54.3zM448 480h-92.7V334.4c0-34.7-.7-79.2-48.3-79.2-48.3 0-55.7 37.7-55.7 76.7V480h-92.8V180.9h89.1v40.8h1.3c12.4-23.5 42.7-48.3 87.9-48.3 94 0 111.3 61.9 111.3 142.3V480z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a title=\"Twitter\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/drshreedatta\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" class=\"saboxplugin-icon-grey\"><svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"sab-twitter\" role=\"img\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M459.37 151.716c.325 4.548.325 9.097.325 13.645 0 138.72-105.583 298.558-298.558 298.558-59.452 0-114.68-17.219-161.137-47.106 8.447.974 16.568 1.299 25.34 1.299 49.055 0 94.213-16.568 130.274-44.832-46.132-.975-84.792-31.188-98.112-72.772 6.498.974 12.995 1.624 19.818 1.624 9.421 0 18.843-1.3 27.614-3.573-48.081-9.747-84.143-51.98-84.143-102.985v-1.299c13.969 7.797 30.214 12.67 47.431 13.319-28.264-18.843-46.781-51.005-46.781-87.391 0-19.492 5.197-37.36 14.294-52.954 51.655 63.675 129.3 105.258 216.365 109.807-1.624-7.797-2.599-15.918-2.599-24.04 0-57.828 46.782-104.934 104.934-104.934 30.213 0 57.502 12.67 76.67 33.137 23.715-4.548 46.456-13.32 66.599-25.34-7.798 24.366-24.366 44.833-46.132 57.827 21.117-2.273 41.584-8.122 60.426-16.243-14.292 20.791-32.161 39.308-52.628 54.253z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h3>Article written by:<\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This article was medically fact-checked by Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist Dr. Shree Datta. Please note that advice offered by Intimina may not be relevant to your individual case. If your&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":17787,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.12 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Intermittent Fasting for Women - A Complete Guide and Effects on Body<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A complete guide to intermittent fasting for women, effects on female the body, and how IF can affect menstrual cycles.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Anna Worms\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Anna Worms\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4aa2fd9ea0a5c3210d6608588bc9fcc5\"},\"headline\":\"A Complete Guide to Intermittent Fasting for Women\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-30T10:04:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-23T06:25:42+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/\"},\"wordCount\":2197,\"commentCount\":26,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"articleSection\":[\"Women's Health\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/\",\"name\":\"Intermittent Fasting for Women - A Complete Guide and Effects on Body\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-30T10:04:51+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-23T06:25:42+00:00\",\"description\":\"A complete guide to intermittent fasting for women, effects on female the body, and how IF can affect menstrual cycles.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"description\":\"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Intimina\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png\",\"width\":1000,\"height\":543,\"caption\":\"Intimina\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina\",\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4aa2fd9ea0a5c3210d6608588bc9fcc5\",\"name\":\"Anna Worms\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f41560810d5713ab4c8c89c8d98507bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f41560810d5713ab4c8c89c8d98507bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Anna Worms\"},\"description\":\"My name is Anna Worms. And yes. I did marry into that name. I\u2019m a women\u2019s health copywriter with a passion for menstrual health especially. I\u2019m a small-town girl from Minnesota and love my little rural community. You know the Twin Cities right? Well where I live is about two hours west of that. Needless to say anytime we want to travel there\u2019s always a little bit of drive time first.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/annaworms\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Intermittent Fasting for Women - A Complete Guide and Effects on Body","description":"A complete guide to intermittent fasting for women, effects on female the body, and how IF can affect menstrual cycles.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Anna Worms","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/"},"author":{"name":"Anna Worms","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4aa2fd9ea0a5c3210d6608588bc9fcc5"},"headline":"A Complete Guide to Intermittent Fasting for Women","datePublished":"2020-06-30T10:04:51+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-23T06:25:42+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/"},"wordCount":2197,"commentCount":26,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization"},"articleSection":["Women's Health"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/","name":"Intermittent Fasting for Women - A Complete Guide and Effects on Body","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website"},"datePublished":"2020-06-30T10:04:51+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-23T06:25:42+00:00","description":"A complete guide to intermittent fasting for women, effects on female the body, and how IF can affect menstrual cycles.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/intermittent-fasting-for-women\/"]}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/","name":"Intimina","description":"A Health and Wellness Resource for Women","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Intimina","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/INTIMINA_logo-02.png","width":1000,"height":543,"caption":"Intimina"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/intimina","https:\/\/twitter.com\/intimina","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/intimina\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/intimina\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCR_3_GPO6pkhDiFU9TZRdYA"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/4aa2fd9ea0a5c3210d6608588bc9fcc5","name":"Anna Worms","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f41560810d5713ab4c8c89c8d98507bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f41560810d5713ab4c8c89c8d98507bd?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Anna Worms"},"description":"My name is Anna Worms. And yes. I did marry into that name. I\u2019m a women\u2019s health copywriter with a passion for menstrual health especially. I\u2019m a small-town girl from Minnesota and love my little rural community. You know the Twin Cities right? Well where I live is about two hours west of that. Needless to say anytime we want to travel there\u2019s always a little bit of drive time first.","url":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/author\/annaworms\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17769"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17769"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19186,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17769\/revisions\/19186"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/17787"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.intimina.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}